Junk Science vs. Cora June Island

Facts prove "birds do not need large buffers". Environmentalists, however, rely on junk science to push their agenda.

This picture provides a good example of the junk science surrounding the 2008 settlement ("consent decree") between Defenders of Wildlife (DOW) and the National Park Service:

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What do you imagine when someone says it's about a mile down the road? Maybe this picture will show you something you can see. Just think, when a plover chick hatches the "Good" science for the birds that has been forced upon us in the consent decree states we will have three USS BUsh Nimtz Super Class Carriers stretched end to end for the radius of the circle around this one nest. God forbid another nest a forth of a mile from the first!

I believe that you could put the nest on the bow of one of these carriers and have a band play for the 5000 plus crew and airwing on the stern of the carrier and the bird would not know anything was going on. Good science for the bird, maybe! Good science for the people trying to enjoy the # 8 ranked beach in the world, I don't think so.

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The consent decree also ignores the nearby island off Hatteras Inlet where the birds flourish:

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All the area in White has been shut down for less than a handfull of birds,because the public is being told that there has been drastic # declines in a few different species..

Well the area in red is home to some of the largest concentrations of the same birds..The Orgs that sued us took part in a bird count and species identification on several of these Islands and are very aware of the astronomical #s

The SELC,DOW and Audobon Society refuse to let the #s of these birds from the area in red to be counted for the National Reacreational Area,but D@mn if they don't have the entire area roped off with signs that say "Don't come within a 150ft of this Island"…They even had the Dredge for the ferry channel shut down,because of the birds on these Islands..

Photo By Don Bowers of Indian Town Gallery

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Another nearby island just north is Cora June Island, where according to this report:

These are pics of Least Terns and Black Skimmers on Cora June dredge island less than 600 meters from the Hatteras ferry terminal. Less than 100 meters from the ferry route. These are the "species of concern" that are supposedly missing from Hatteras island.

Least Terns are the large groups on top. Black Skimmers are the black ones lower and on the shore. Every Black skimmer on the side of the island is a nest. Not so scarce are they. This is just one island in the sound.

(Note: File data indicates these four pictures were taken June 15, 2008 using a Nikon D40X camera)
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(Pic 2)
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(Pic 3)
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(Pic 4)
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Even the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission hails in this report the increase in the number of birds on Cora Island:

An outstanding success story can be found on Cora June Island, located near Hatteras Inlet. This island disappeared during Hurricane Isabel in 2003 but was rebuilt in spring 2007 during a dredging project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Only months after rising from the sea, the island was home to one of the largest mixed tern/black skimmer colonies in the state with good numbers of nesting adults that successfully fledged hundreds of chicks.

The recent survey, which was conducted in spring 2007, is one of 10 complete coast-wide surveys conducted since the late 1970s to monitor population trends, distribution of colony sites and nesting habitat conditions. Data gleaned from the surveys help biologists make management and conservation decisions and prioritize research. The next waterbird survey is scheduled for 2010.

More Cora June Island pictures are available here

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